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The Semifinals of Worlds 2024 have concluded over the weekend, and after two matchups between two powerhouse teams, the stage is set for the Finals. T1, the crowd favorite from the LCK and defending champions, will face off against LPL’s BLG. This is the second finals where the LCK battles against LPL, with last year’s T1 facing and winning against WBG.
Both teams had to overcome challenging competition, with their recent wins coming off fellow LCK and LPL teams, respectively. T1 and BLG’s best-of-5 confrontation for this year’s trophy will take place in the O2 Arena in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2024.
Which Teams Did T1 and BLG Defeat in the Semifinals en Route to the Finals?
Before T1 and BLG punched their ticket to the Finals, they had to face the last two remaining teams in the semifinals. Both teams had to face opposition from the same region, as BLG went toe-to-toe against WBG, while T1 squared off against Gen.G.
BLG beats WBG (3-0)
BLG was looking to get back into the finals, and standing in their way was WBG. BLG was coming off a big win against Hanwha Life Esports in the quarterfinals, and were looking to keep their momentum going by beating their fellow LPL team.
Meanwhile, WBG had a strong showing in the quarterfinals by beating LNG, the fourth-best team in the LPL during the LPL Summer split. WBG was looking to get into the Finals for the first time, but BLG, the top team in the LPL, was waiting for them.
Game 1
The first game between BLG and WBG was a low-scoring affair, in terms of KDA. Both teams were feeling each other out, with BLG going for a double ADC and engage-intensive lineup against WBG’s team that focused on disengaging and punishing.
Elk and knight were on point during the course of the match, making the most of Xun’s masterful Skarner ganks to give them the advantage. While WBG had some damage, their lack of initiation aside from Xiaohu’s Yone wasn’t enough to quell BLG’s lineup.
After 39 minutes of action, BLG proved to be the better team. Elk and knight, who used Varus and Smolder, respectively, ended up with a 5/2/3 and 4/1/3 KDAs, and took the first game.
Game 2
WBG opted to run it back and take it to BLG in Game 2 by running a similar lineup, but with Breathe running Maokai on top, Tarzan using Elise, and Xiahou utilizing his famous Lucian at mid. However, they didn’t ban Jax and Skarner, two champions that are dangerous in Bin and Xun’s hands.
The first few minutes saw WBG set the pace, with Tarzan roaming with his Elise to pressure BLG’s lanes. However, BLG was quick to regain control of the match, thanks to Elk’s Ziggs snuffing out any push WBG was trying on the side lanes.
One key fight in Baron saw WBG secure the pushing buff, but were reeling after BLG picked off a couple of WBG members. Xiaohu, opting to make a play, tried to take out 3 low-to-mid health BLG members at top lane, but wasn’t able to do so.
Ultimately, BLG weathered a more aggressive WBG and mounted an insurmountable lead, with knight having a monster Syndra game, going for 7/0/8 KDA. This was enough for BLG to wrestle the win against WBG, 2-0, after a 31:37 bout.
Game 3
With one win away separating themselves from going to the Finals, BLG was going for the jugular. WBG again gave Skarner and Jax to BLG, and they obliged with Bin and Xun having a huge impact.
BLG went for a balanced initiating team with Jax, Skarner, Akali, Kai’Sa, and Alistar. Meanwhile, WBG’s team consisted of Rumble, Sejuani, Yone, Ezreal, and Maokai. knight and Elk continued their dominating performance in Game 3, with knight going for a 8/0/7 KDA and Elk going for 5/2/7 KDA, respectively.
Bin, who’s well-known for his Jax, exploded for a 5/2/9 KDA and went to town against WBG throughout the game. Namely, Bin was crucial with his teleports to pincer WBG during key team fights. After the dust had settled, BLG was victorious, crushing WBG and returning to the Finals.
T1 defeats Gen.G (3-1)
T1, last year’s defending champions, has set their sights on heading back to the Finals and going for another consecutive championship. However, Gen.G, the LCK’s top-performing team throughout the regular season, is gunning for that spot in the Finals.
T1’s regular season this year had some noting that they might have lost a step. They managed to eke out and take the last LCK spot by winning the regional finals. Meanwhile, Gen.G was having an excellent regular season – they were first in Spring, won MSI and have secured their spot in Worlds. The only blemish at the time was their loss in Summer against Hanwha Life Esports.
Game 1
T1 started off strong in Game 1, opting for a strong initiating lineup that had Gragas, Vi, Yone, Ashe, and Renata. Meanwhile, Gen.G’s team is composed of a push-heavy bot lane lineup with Renekton, Skarner, Sylas, Ziggs, and Leona.
While the game is another low-scoring game on the KDA side, it had some great moments. Zeus had some amazing plays in the early going, flashing just in the nick of time to avoid Lehend’s engage in the bot lane. This was the theme for the whole match – T1 was on point with their initiates, often catching Lehends out of place and punishing him for it.
After 30:01, T1 was in the driver’s seat, and secured Game 1 thanks to Gumayusi and his Ashe who had a 6/0/5 KDA. T1 ended up with a 11/6/33 KDA.
Game 2
While Gen.G got caught reeling in Game 1, the second game saw them steer the ship back and have a strong showing against the defending champions. Gen.G went for a strong initiating lineup with Jax, Skarner, Ahri, Kai’Sa, and Rell. Meanwhile, T1 ran a lineup consisting of Maokai, Kindred, Sylas, Caitlyn, and Braum.
Initially, T1 was riding off the momentum they got from winning Game 1. However, Gen.G proved their mettle by slowly picking off T1 before going all-in for clashes. One key clash saw Gumayusi finally getting one death, thanks to a huge Skarner ultimate from Canyon.
Lehends and Canyon continued to pressure T1 with their initiates, while Peyz’s Kai’Sa was slowly sniping up kills on his way to a strong 5/0/6 KDA finish. After 27:42 of action, Gen.G secured Game 2 to even the series, 1-1.
Game 3
Game 3 saw T1 maintain their composure and go for a more kill-centric lineup, with Faker utilizing Akali in the mid, Oner manning Vi, Gumayusi on Ashe, Zeus with Gragas, and Keria on Renata. Meanwhile, Gen.G opted for a gank-centric, late-game lineup with Jax, Nocturne, Ahri, Ezreal, and Rell.
Faker was on point during the whole of Game 3 – his Akali landed key takedowns during the transition of early to mid game, while Oner was also keeping the pressure on Gen.G and their side lanes. Faker went on a tear on his way to a 5/0/10 KDA, while Oner’s ganks and securing of objectives saw him go for a solid 5/1/11 KDA.
During the late game, Gumayusi’s Ashe came online, going for a 7/1/9 KDA. T1 had the lead for most of the match, and after 31:45, T1 scored the 2-1 victory.
Game 4
The fourth game between T1 and Gen.G had both teams blocking each other’s go-to champions. Gen.G denied Gumayusi by picking Ashe, and going for a double-ADC lineup with Poppy, Maokai, Nidalee, and Tristana.
Not to be deterred, T1 stole Ahri. Skarner, and Jax, while completing their lineup with Gumayusi’s infamous Varus and Keria going for a spicy Support pick with Pyke.
Keria’s Pyke was on point during the early going, landing key hooks and giving Lehends multiple early trips back to the fountain.Oner’s Skarner was also pivotal with his initiates that saw Gen.G reeling. However, at the mid game portion at top lane, Gen.G had a flicker of hope when Kiin managed to land a crucial Poppy ultimate to separate T1’s front line and routing their backline.
However, this quick reprieve proved to be fleeting, as T1 maintained their composure and continued to increase the pressure on the LCK regular season’s top team. While Gen.G’s double ADC lineup was better suited for the late game, T1 got a crucial stop and prevented the match from going into deep waters.
As the dust settled after 33:31 of action, T1 marched into Gen.G’s base to takedown the nexus and secure their place in the Finals against BLG.